Outboard motor crankcase and oil reservoir construction



Aug. 19, 1952 ,BOSMA ,6 3

OUTBOARD MOTOR cRANxcAsE AND OILBESERVOIR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 15,1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IN VEN TOR.

A. S. BOSMA Aug. 19, 1952 OUTBOARD MOTOR CRANKCASE AND OIL RESERVOIRCONSTRUCTION 2 SI-lEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 13, 1848 IIIIII l INV T0 BY nATTORNEY/5'.

Patented Au g. 19, 1 952 ,7 3 41 OUTBOARD MOTOR CRANKCASE AND on.

- 1 V assrmvom CONSTRUCTION Alfr'edfS. Bosma'lNew Holstein, Wis.,assignor to g Hart-Carter Company, Peoria, 111., a corporation ofDelaware Application November 13, 1948, Serial No; 59,850

, 18 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in outboard motors. r

In my prior Patent No. 2,346,148, a four cycle outboard motor isdisclosed having an on sump positioned below the crankcase thereof toprovide a reservoir into which oil can drain from the crank case andfrom which oilcan be pumped to lubricate thevarious parts of the motor.

This patent was .designed forthe purpose of solving the problems whicharise where this type of construction is employed and which are causedbythe fact that an outboard motor is frequently tilted to a horizontalposition, such as when it is being manuallycarried or while it is beingtransported in a vehicle. 'Tilting of motors of the above mentionedtype, unless specially constructed asin the above mentionedpatent, willcause the oil from the reservoir to flow'back into the crankcase andinto the cylinders and pistons. If excessive quantities of such. oil arepermitted tocollect in and around the cylinders and pistons it will foulthe latterv and prevent proper motor operation. In addition, where a'conventional breather is. used tovent-the crankcase to the atmosphereexcessive oil from the crankcase is likely tqdrain out through saidbreather when the motor is tilted or placed in a horizontal position. a

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improvedfour cycle outboard motor of the type havinga separate oil reservoir,wherein positive means is provided'to sealofi the reservoir fromthecrankcase tothereby permit the motor to be tilted to any positionwithout lettin oil flow from the reservoir back into the crankcase.

A further object of -theinvention is to provide an outboard motor of theclass described havin means-to prevent leakage ofoil from the crankcase.out through the crankcasebreather when said motor is tilted or placedon its side;

, A further object 'of the invention-isv to provide an outboard motorof' the class described wherein a passage is providedbetween thecrankcase and the oil reservoir which passage serves as a breatherpassage as well as anoil drain passage, and wherein a breather passageleads from said reservoir to the atmosphere, there being a single valvefor simultaneously"opening or closing both passages whereby the flow ofoil either into the crankcase or out through the breather as a result oftiltin'gthe motor canbe-prevented.

' A further objectof the invention is to. provide a motor of the classdescribed havingmanually operated means for actuating the breathervalve,

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a motor of theclass described a bellows unit having one end in communication with thedischarge side of the oil pump and having a plunger movable by saidbellows in response to oil pressure acting thereagainst for actuatingthe breather valve.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved outboard motor and all of its partsand combinations as setforth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof. In the drawingsaccompanying and forming a part of this 'specification wherein are showntwo embodiments of the invention and wherein the same reference numeralsindicate the same parts inalloftheviews:

Fig; l is-a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through amotor'embodying one form of the invention; v Y 1 V Fig. 2 is afragmentary side view of the manually engageable breather valve controlmechanism together with the ground switch; 5

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the lines 3-3 of is mounted in thecrankcase Ill for rotative move-- 7 ment on a vertical axis and a driveshaft I6 projects downwardly from said crankshaft through the plate l2and through the reservoir 1 I. Suitable means such as the tube I1provides a sealed off passage for-the-drive shaft 16 through theinterior; of the reservoir l l.

Formed in the plate I; adjacent aside wall of the crankcase H1 is anaperture or passage [8 which communicates between theinterior of thecrankcase I0 and the interior of the reservoir 1 I.-

Formed in a side wall of the crankcase l0 adja- I8 and I9 is a discvalve 23. The spring 22 provided with a portion '24 whichprojcts.laterei ally beyond the peripheral limits o'f the disc valve 23.

Suitably mounted adjacent thef'exterior 'of the' crankcase I!) forrotative movement in a hori zontal plane is a shaft 25 which provided atone end with a manually engageable knob -26; iixedto the opposite end ofthe shaft 25 is acarn-21.;

A vertical rod 28 is positioned directly below the cam 21 and slidablyprojects through the pleitelZ, being supported'at its lower end b theportion 24 of the springfl22; ,fl'he'spring 22 maintains the upper endof the-rod 2.81m contact with thecamZL,

fReferring toliig. 2,it will be noted. that the r0d.28 is in itsuppermostpositionwhen the cam 21 is positionedas shown, Withjtheportionjthereof having the longestredigus being positioned directlyabove the shaftjli. Suitably mounted ad: 530 1 11; the.CBHI-ZI.8;HC1.1I1.COI11J3.CU with said cam when saidicamisinj theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2,1-i's. an electrical contact member 29.A suitable electrical conductor 30 leads to the magneto of the motor.The support for the contact 29 is of the type which electricallyinsulates said contact from theportion of the motor on which it ismounted.

. From Fig, 2' it isjapparent thatrotation the shaft 2 5. bymanuarturning 10f theknob' 23 causes the high portion of ecamfflfto'move o o engagement with thespring 29' and'jto move intodepressingengagement with therod' 128. Depression of the rod 28 tothedot'and d ash'line position shown in Fig. 1, results in-simultaneous;

movement of the spring 22 andithe disc. valve 23 to the dot anddash lineposition' of Fig l, In this position there is no electrical connectionbetween thecontact 29 and the cam 21'.

Referring to Figs, 1 ands, agear pump 3I is mounted within thereservoirI I. and fixed'to the underside of the. platefI2. The pump 3| is provided with gears 32and' 33 which are mounted for rotation on a verticalaxis. A cam shaft 34 is mounted in the crankcase I3 forrotation oniavertical axis. The cam shaft'34 is formed with an axial passage35 andwith radial passages 35 and- .37 communicating therewith; Projectingthroughthe plateIZ and fixedly connected at one end to the lower end ofthe cam shaft 34 and: having its otherend projecting through the gear 33ofr'thepumpjl; is a quill shaft-L38. The axial passagegin the quillshaft 38 communicates with" the axial passage-35 in the cam shaft 34, asshown in Fig. 1, and the lower end of the quill shaft 38 is journalledfor rotation in the body of the valve 3|,asshown. V

Referring to 3, the gears 32 and 33 are positioned in an oblong recess39 7 An intake passage 40 communicatesfwiththe recess 39 on one side ofthe gears 32 and 33 and a discharge passage 4I communicates with therecess 39 adjacent the opposite side of the gears 32 and33. The in-'-take passage extends downwardly and transverse-- ly as shown by the dotand dash lines of Fig. '1

and communicates with an inlet pipe 42 which terminates at a pointadjacent the bottom of he reservoir II. The discharge passage 4I extendsa predetermined distance vertically downwardly as shown. A horizontalpassage 43 communicates discharge passage M is a spring loaded ballcheck pressure relief valve 45.

.1110, put the; motor. in operation, the knob 26 Q'tur'ned .180. fromthe position thereof shown .in Fig Z,thereby disengaging the contact 23from "15".

' 'valve' 23 "with theJcamjZT and'moying the rod 28 and the disc pring22 to the dot and dash The motor is then started in positiono'f' 1 a theusual m'ahnni When the motor is running, I the oil pump 3|, being drivenby the cam shaft 34 through the quill shaft 38, pumps oil from thebottom of the reservoir II up through the inlet pipe 42 and the inletpassage 40 andout through. the discharge passage 4 I, thetransversepassage 453; the vertical passage 44, the quill shaft 38, and

te h el pas e e 5.1 he'. zshai 3.

From the passage 35, "oilfund'er pressure is. sq i t out the tra sv rse.pa a e '35 n 31 onto the motor bearings and the other parts in thecrankcase which. requirelubrication. M

I The surplusfoil'in the crankcase I0, drains back into the reservoir II "through: the passage I8.

Breathing action in; the crankcase 10, due to piston displacement,causes movement of crankcase gases from the crankcase-into the reservoirI I, and from the reservoir I I-,' through the passage I 9 andthebreather 2 0, to the atmosphere.

To stop'the running motor it iemerely necesri /t rm e knob ta kt o ioshown in'Figs. 15 and 2.; brings the cam 21 into; electrical engagementwith the contact 29,, thereby grounding the ignition circuit and,stopping the motor for-lack of ignition spark. Simultaneously with thegrounding of the ignition circuit the" rod 28,;the dis'c valve-23, andthe spring 22 are-allowedto return tat-he solid line position gposit'iom both the passage-I8 andthep'assag 'lilare effectively andsimultaneously sealed off b-y' the-valve disc 23.

By sealing on the passages I8 and I9 the oil in thereservoir I I istrapped therein andcannot fiowinto; the crankcase or out through thebreather-i235 Neitlienis' :it possible for any oil draining off thewalls of the crankcase to'find its'way-outthrough thebreather 20 as isthe case with conventional motors, The" spring '22 maintains the disc'valve2-3'in effective sealing engagement over the passages I8 and I9regardless of the position-of the motor, and therefore, whensaidyalvei-s closedz he motor may be tilted a to any'desired positionwithoutdanger of leakage o'f oil either out the creamer; 23 91 into thecrankcase I0 a 1i i Referring to-Figi 4, whereinis' disclosed a modifiedform of the invention; the various parts are indicated by primedreference characters where the same parts are shown 'inFigel and areindicated by the 'same reference characters-unprimed. Comparing Figs. 1and l, itwil-l be noted that the manually" operated}-mechariism foropening the disc va1ve23 in-Figl is missing in Fig. 4. In place thereof,is an 'automatic mechanism. which will now be described.

j Referring toFi'g; 4, th'e valve disc 23' is resiliently mounted on oneend .of a lever 46. .The lever 46 is pivotally mounted midway of. itslength:

on a lug 4 1 which depends from an-L .-shaped bracket '48 fixedto the,underside of the plate [2. Positioned in a recess 49 in the bracket48,and in engagement with the other end of the lever 46, is a coilspring 50'which urges'th'e'end of the lever with which it is in contactdownwardly.

This action of the spring 50 simultaneously urges the valve disc 23upwardly into sealing engagement with the plate l2 over the passages l 8and I9.

Supported on the lower end of the'L-shaped bracket 48, as by the bracketis a' bellows assembly 52. The bellows assembly 52 has a cupshaped case-5-3,h-aving an inturned annular flange 54 at its upper end. 'A'cup-shaped axially compressible bellows 55 is positioned within the case 53 andthe upper margin thereof is sealingly connected to the "inturned annularflange 54 of the case 53. Positioned inth'e bellows55, and .projectingupwardly beyond the case '53 into contact with the lever 4'6,'is aplunger 56;

Communicating at one end with the discharge passage 4'! of the pump 3|is a U-shaped extent of conduit 57. The conduit 51' at its other endcommunicates with the interior of the case 53 of the bellows assembly asshown. In addition to the ball check pressure relief valve 45', the gearpumrp 3'l is provided with a springloaded ball check valve 58 positionedin the transverse passage 4'3. Experience has shown that satisfactoryresults are obtained when a check valve 58 is used which opens inresponse to an oil pressure of 12 pounds per square inch. The

pressure relief valve-4'5 preferably opens when the oil pressure reachestwenty to twenty-five pounds er square inch. 7 I

In operation, the motor is started in the usual manner, the disc valve23 being in the full line closed position shown-inFig. 4. As soon as themotor starts, the gear pump 31' builds up oil pressure in the dischargepassage 41' thereof. This pressure is transmitted through the conduit 51to the enclosed space between the interior of the case 35 and theexterior of the'bellows 55. This pressure urges the plunger 56 upwardly.However, since the spring urges the end of the lever 46 downwardlyagainst the plunger with a predetermined force, nothing happens untilthis force is overcome. When the oil pressure'built up by the pump 3 lreaches a predetermined level, it compresses the bellows 5'3longitudinally and forces the plunger 55 upwardly. This pivots the lever4'6 and causes the valve disc 23' .touncover the passages l3 and I9 andto move to the dot and dash line position of Fig. 4. Experience hasshown that a spring '50 and bellows assembly 52 which opens the discvalve 23' in response to an oil pressure of eight pounds per square inchgives satisfactory results.

It is apparent that. the disc valve 23' must open in response to a lowerpressure than that which is necessary to open the ball check valve 58.As the oil pressure builds up beyond that necessary to open the discvalve 23', itv pushes the ball check valve '58 open and oil then flowsup through the quill shaft 38 and the cam shaft 34' and out thetransverse passages 36' and 31' to lubricate the various motor parts.During operation of the motor the surplus'oil in the crankcase drainsback into the reservoir H through thepassage, l8, and crankcasebreathing action occurs as in the operation of the form of the inventionshown inFig.1.

1 When the motor. is's'topped, the oil pressure drops since the oil pump3l ':n0. longer isoperat to oilpressure which isbuilt up only when themotor is, running, the valve 2-3 is held clos'edby the spring50 at alltimes except when said motor is running. This provides an automaticcontrol for the valve 23 and eliminates the need for any manual controlmechanism therefor.

Various changes maybe made without departing from the s'piri'tj-of theinvention andall of such changes are contemplated as may come within thescope of the claims.

1'. In an outbdardmotor, an enclosed oilreservoir; ,an enclosedcrankcase positioned adjacent said reservoir, there being a firstpassage connecting said crankcase withfsaid'reservoirand there being asecond passage venting the 'interior ofs'aidreservoir to the atmosphere;a .valve normally closing said first and second. passages; a resilientmounting for said valve normally urging said valve to closed position; areciprocatable plunger in engagement with said valve; and ex teriorlyaccessible means for moving said plunger toopen said valve.

=2. In an outboard motor, an enclosed oil reser voir; anenclosedcrankcase positioned adjacent said reservoir, there being a firstpassage connecting said crankcase with said reservoir',.and therebeing asecond'passage venting the interior of said reservoir tothe atmosphere;a valve normally closing said first and second passages; a resilientmounting for said valve normally urging saidvalve to closed position;- areciprocatable plunger in engagement with said valve; and exteriorlyaccessible means including acam for moving said plunger to open saidvalve. I Y n 3. In an outboard motor having an electrical ignitioncircuit; an enclosed oil reservoir; a separately enclosed crankcasepositioned adjacent said reservoir, .there;being a first passageconnecting said crankcase with-said-reservoir and a there being a secondpassage-venting the interior of said reservoir to the atmosphere; avalve normally closing said first and second passages; means including a,cam f'oropening said valve; and means for causing grounding of saidcircuit when said valve is closed.

4. In an outboard motor having an electrical ignition circuit; anenclosed oil reservoir; a separartely enclosed crankcase positionedadjacent said reservoir, there being-a first passage connecting saidcrankcase with said reservoir and there being a second passage ventingthe interior of said reservoir to the atmosphere; a valve normallyclosing said first and second pass-ages; means including a camilorppening said valve; and a contact member inzsaid electrical circuitengageable with said cam "when said valve is closed for causinggrounding of said circuit.

5, In an outboardmotor having a crankcase and having an enclosed oilreservoir and having an hydraulic circuit including an oil pump fordelivering oil from; said reservoir to said crankcase, there being 1 apassage. connecting said crankcase with said reservoir-and there being asecond passage venting the-interior of said reservoir to theatmospherez-a valve normally closing saidfirst and; second passages; and

g means responsivetonpressureaof oil in said by:

simu ci cuit for, o en said valve. 1

and. having an enclosed oil, reservoir and havin an :hydraulic circuitincluding an oil pump for delivering oil from said reservoir to saidcrankcase, there being a first passage connecting said crankcase withsaid reservoir and there .being a second. passage venting ."the interiorof'jsaid r se oir to t e a mosphere; .a valve n rma ly closing-saidfirst and second passages; apivotallyinounted lever'conneeted 'at oneend to said'valve; and a bellows'inengagement with the; other end of:said lever and responsive to pressure of oil in said hydraulicv circuitfor moving'said lever i'n'a valve opening direction.

8. In an outboard motor having acrankcase andghaving an enclosed oilreservoir and having an hydraulic circuit including an oil pump fordelivering oil from said reservoir" to said crankcase, there being afirst passage connecting said crankcase with said reservoir and therebeing a second passage venting the interior of said reservoir-to theatmosphere; a valve normally closing'said first and second passages: apivotally mounted levergresiliently connected at one end to' said valve;and a bellows responsive to pressure of oil in said hydraulic circuitand having a portion in' engagementwith the other end of said lever formoving said lever in a valve opening direction. I I I I 9 .'In anoutboard'motor having a crankcase and having an enclosed 'o'il reservoirand having an hydr'aulic'circuit includingan oil pump for deliveringoilfrom saidreservoir to said crankcase, there being a first-passageconnecting said crankcase with said'reservoir and there being a secondpassage venting the interior of said reservoir to the atmosphere; avalve normally closing said first and second passages; a pivotallymounted lever resiliently connected at one end to said valve; a pressureresponsive bellows having a portion in engagement with the other end ofsaid lever; anda conduit connecting said bellows with said hydrauliccircuit whereby said bellows moves said lever in a valve openingdirection in response to 'oil pressure in said hydraulic circuit. 7

10. In an outboard motor: an enclosed oil reservoir; and an enclosed,normally drained crankcase positioned above said reservoir, there beinga first'crankc'asebreather passage connecting said crankcase with saidreservoir and positioned tofpermit oil to drain by gravity therethr'oughfrom said; crankcase into said reservoir, and their being 'a secondcrankcase breather passage opening into "the reservoir above theoillevel thereof yand'movably mounted valve means positioned for movementbetween closed position with respect tosai'd passages; and openpositionwhere said passages are in free com'muni'cation"with' said reservoir.

11. In an outboardmoto'r: an enclosed oil-res;- ervoir; an enclosed,normallydr'ained crankcase positioned 'aboves'aid reservoir, therebeinga first crankcase breather passage connecting said crankcase withsaid reservoir and positioned to permit :oilfto drain" by gravity,therethrough from first crankcase into" said reservoir, and there beingasecond crankcase breather passage opening into the reservoir-abovevtheoil level thereof; movably mounted valve, means in, said (reservoirnormally. closing both .of'said passages; a refsilient mounting 'forsaidvalve means normally urging said valve means to closed position; andactuating mechanism connected to said valve means for opening thelatter.

12.'In an outboard motor: an enclosedoil res,- ervoir; anenclosed'normally drained crankcase positioned above said. reservoir,there being a first crankcase breather passage. connecting. saidcrankcase with said reservoir and positionedto permit oil-tojdrain bygravity therethroughfrom said crankcase intows'aid reservoir, and there.beingl'a second crankcase breather passage open ing into thereservoirabove. the oillevel thereof; valve'nieans in said reservoirnormally closing both ofsaid passages means normally urging said valvemeans toward: closed position; and means for opening said valve means.

13. In an outboard motor: an oil reservoir; a normally drained crankcasesuperimposed on said reservoir; a common wall separating said crankcasefrom said reservoir, said wall being formed with a first crankcasebreather passage communicating between said crankcase and saidreservoirrand positionedto permit oil todrain by gravity therethroughfrom said crankcase into said reservoir, and thereabeing a secondcrankcase breather passage opening into the reservoir above the oillevel thereof; a valve in said reservoir normally closing both-ofsaid--passages; a resilient mounting for said valve normally urging saidvalve to closed" position; and actuating mechanism connected 'to saidvalve. for moving the latter to open position.

14. In an outboard motor; an oil reservoir; a normally drained crankcasesuperimposed; on said reservoir; a common will separating said crankcasefrom said reservoir, said wallbeing formed with a first crankcasebreather passage communicating between said crankcase and said reservoirand positioned to permit oil to drain by gravity therethrough from saidcrankcase into saiidreservoir, and there being a second. crankcase:Ioreather passage opening into the reservoir above the; oillevelthereof; a valve in said reservoir for closing. saidfirst and secondpassages; a spring normally urging said valve toward closed position;and means for opening said valve. i

15. In. an outboard motor: an oil reservoir; anormally drained.crankcase superimposed on said reservoir; a common wall separating saidcrankcase from said reservoir, saidwall being formed with a. firstcrankcase breather passage communicating betweenv said crankcase andsaid reservoir and. positioned topermit oil to drain by gravity.'therethrough from said crankcase into said re'servoinand there being asecond crankcase breather passage opening into the reservoir abovetheoil level thereof, whereby the interior of the crankcase is vented tothe atmosphere through said reservoir and said first pas; sage; a valvein said reservoir for closing said first and second passages; means.normally urging said valve toward closed position; and means for openingsaid valve.

16. In an outboard motor having a crankcase and having an enclosed oilreservoir and having an hydraulic circuit including an oil pump fordelivering oil from said reservoir to said crankcase, there being afirst passage connecting said crankcase with said reservoir and therebeing a second passage venting the interior of said reservoir to theatmosphere: a valve normally closing said first and second passages; apivotally mounted lever connected to said valve; spring means urgingsaid lever in a valve closin direction; and means responsive to pressureof oil in said hydraulic circuit for moving said lever in a valveopening direction.

17. In an outboard motor having an electrical ignition circuit: anenclosed oil reservoir; a separately enclosed crankcase positionedadjacent said reservoir, there being a passage connecting said crankcasewith said reservoir; a valve normally closing said passage; mechanismfor opening said valve, said mechanism including an electrical contactmember; and means for causing grounding of said circuit through saidelectrical contact member when said valve is closed.

18. In an outboard motor having an electrical REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 579,909 Warth Mar. 30, 1897797,046 Casler Aug. 15, 1905 1,071,068 Maranville Aug. 26, 19131,480,545 Cummings Jan. 15, 1924 1,537,116 I-Iowlett May 12, 19251,553,149 Doran Sept. 8, 1925

